The whole of South Africa will be backing the Hollywoodbets Sharks when the face Glouster in the final of the EPCR Challenge Cup on Friday night right?
South Africans always support other South Africans, local rivalries get pushed aside as we cheer for one of our own against someone or something from a distant land.
Well, Friday will be a bit different.
There will be a bunch of men, women and children in Johannesburg rooting for the Cherry and Whites, quietly but firmly.
They are a team with a strong connection to the Lions as Johan Ackermann used to coach both sides, his side Ruan swapped one red and white kit for another (and is still killing it overseas - England call coming soon?) and Lions heroes like Faf de Klerk and Jaco Kriel starred for both sides over the years.
But that won't be the reason the Joburg side want the team from the south west of England to win, it's more pragmatic than that, more important and could change the game for the three-time Super Rugby finalists.
You see if the Sharks win in London, then they are automatically in the Investec Champions Cup next season meaning that the team that finishes eighth on the United Rugby Championship log misses out on the big time and will play in the Challenge Cup.
And with the teams being so close in the battle for URC play-off rugby the Lions may well be the team hurt by a Sharks victory (although on paper they only have an 11% chance apparently).
If the final round of the URC was played this weekend and the EPCR finals played next weekend the Joburg side and their fans would know who to root for …
If the Lions finished ninth or lower, they would be screaming their lungs out for their coastal brothers, same as if they were seventh or higher but that is not the world we are living in.
The reality is that South Africa have a chance to have four teams in the Champions Cup next season (damn that would tweak the noses of the Smiths and Joneses of the rugby world) but could just as easily end up with only the Vodacom Bulls and DHL Stormers in the competition next season (I can see those smirking faces already).
For South Africa to matter in Europe’s No 1 rugby competition, winning it is the best way and their best chance to do that is to have more teams in the tournament.
Truly, the more the merrier.
If those northern monster sides have to make extra trips down south, be it to the hot and dry highveld or windy Cape or sticky KZN, this can only help the local teams come good.
So, on Friday I’ll #Fearthefin and back the Springbok-laden Sharks to get the job done and then hope the Lions can do the same when they face the Stormers (who have more than pride to play for) next weekend.
Then everyone's a winner.
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